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“Well, you said I can know anything.”

“Did I really say that?”

“More or less.”

He conceded the point with a nod. “Ask away.”

“What’s your real name?”

He chortled. “You don’t think Damon Drake is my real name?”

“Not a chance.”

“You’re pretty sharp.” He looked around to make sure no one was coming. The craft services folks had long disappeared through a side door. Now, the alleyway was empty except for him and Tessa.

There was no getting out of this.

“Roy David McGovern.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded.

“That’s a great name.”

This time he shrugged.

“Why did you change it?”

“My agent said Roy doesn’t sound like a movie star’s name. Also said it makes me sound old. Figures, I guess. I was named after my maternal grandfather. Anyway, I was going to go by David, which was what I was called as a kid anyway, but there was already a David McGovern in the actor’s guild. So, when I got my SAG card, I just said the first name that came to mind. Damon Drake.”

Tessa repeated the alias, saying it as if she was trying it on.

“It fits you,” she said.

“More than Roy?”

There was a thoughtful gleam in her eye as she appraised him. “I’m not sure yet.”

They stood there for another moment, unblinking.

“Your turn. Why Stage 7?”

“You mean you don’t know?”

“Don’t know what?”

“All the movies that have been filmed right here within these walls!” She reached over and knocked on the cream-colored stucco. “We’re talking classics like Casablanca. The Big Sleep. Ocean’s Eleven. The old one with the Rat Pack, not the Clooney one.” Damon watched as she inhaled, held her breath, then released it slowly, her cheeks deflating as she ran her hand over the jagged stucco again.

It almost seemed like a religious experience for her.

“Bogie and Ingrid Bergman were in this very building. They probably walked right here. Maybe stopped right where I’m standing.”

She stepped away from the building and took Damon’s right hand into both of hers.

“They filmed A Summer Place here. Have you seen that one?”

“I don’t think so.”